Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine has gained a little ground on Republican challenger
Christopher Christie and now trails the former prosecutor 51 - 42 percent among likely voters in
the New Jersey Governor's race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to a 53 - 41 percent Christie lead in a July 14 survey by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

A total of 93 percent of New Jersey voters say government corruption is a "somewhat
serious" or "very serious" problem and 65 percent of voters say the recent wave of corruption
arrests embarrasses them as New Jersey residents.

Voters say 50 - 15 percent that they associate the Democratic Party with corruption more
than the Republican Party. Independent voters blame Democrats 56 - 9 percent. Even 28 percent
of Democrats point the finger at their own party.

"Is corruption a big problem? Wow, is it! Almost everyone in New Jersey thinks so.
And two thirds feel personally embarrassed to live in a state where politicians are pictured in
handcuffs," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"More than half associate corruption with the Democratic party. Almost a third say both
parties share the blame. Republicans pretty much get a pass."

"Chris Christie has lost a little ground, but he's still up nine points in the two-candidate
matchup. Third party candidate Christopher Daggett is going nowhere, but he makes the race
interesting, eating into Christie's lead and bringing the gap down to six points," Carroll added.

New Jersey voters disapprove 58 - 36 percent of the job Corzine is doing, a slight
improvement on his 60 - 33 percent disapproval July 14. By a 54 - 37 percent margin, they have
an unfavorable opinion of Corzine, compared to a 42 - 26 percent favorable opinion of Christie.
For Daggett, 92 percent don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

Voters say 42 - 36 percent they would rather spend an afternoon on the Sandy Hook
beach with Corzine. Women would rather stroll with Corzine 46 - 31 percent, while men favor
Christie 42 - 38 percent. A total of 65 percent of voters say a likable personality is "very
important" or "somewhat important" in a candidate.

New Jersey voters know little about the candidates for Lieutenant Governor: 91 percent
don't know enough about Republican Kim Guadagno to form an opinion and 81 percent don't
know enough about Loretta Weinberg.

Christie would do a better job on the state budget, voters say 47 - 41 percent, and do a
better job cleaning up corruption, voters say 54 - 31 percent.

Voters also say 55 - 35 percent that Christie's service as a federal prosecutor gives him
enough experience to be governor.

"It's almost all bad for the Governor - a big negative on job performance, where he's
down 3 - 1 in some Republican areas. He loses to Christie, too, when we ask who'd do better
building budgets and fighting corruption," Carroll said.

"One lonely positive: On the 'nice guy' question of who'd be a better companion on the
Sandy Hook beach, Corzine outscores Christie.

"If the Lieutenant Governor choices will make a difference, it hasn't shown up yet.
Hardly anyone has heard of Guadagno and Weinberg is far from a household name."

From August 5 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,167 New Jersey likely voters, with
a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and
nationally as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed: http://ww.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Jon Corzine the Democrat, and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom
would you vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Corzine
or Christie? This table includes "Leaners".

TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates
were Jon Corzine the Democrat, and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom
would you vote? (If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Corzine or
Christie? This table includes Leaners.

2. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Jon Corzine the Democrat, Christopher Christie the Republican, and Christopher
Daggett the independent, for whom would you vote?(If undecided q2) As of
today, do you lean more toward Corzine, Christie, or Daggett? This table
includes "Leaners".

TREND: If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates
were Jon Corzine the Democrat, Christopher Christie the Republican, and
Christopher Daggett the independent, for whom would you vote? (If undecided)
As of today, do you lean more toward Corzine, Christie, or Daggett? This table
includes Leaners.

20. When you decide how to vote for governor, how important is it to you that
the candidate have a likeable personality - very important, somewhat important,
not too important, or not important at all?

TREND: When you decide how to vote for governor, how important is it to you
that the candidate has a likeable personality - very important, somewhat
important, not too important, or not important at all?